Solicitors Brighton

Mulrooney Craghill Ltd solicitors, Brighton were pleased to represent Ms JH who appeared before the Court charged with handling stolen goods.

We are solicitors based in Brighton and specialise in Criminal defence.

Handling stolen goods is an offence that carries a maximum sentence in the Magistrates’ Court of a six months custodial sentence or in the Crown Court, a fourteen year custodial sentence.

In order to be guilty of this offence the prosecution must prove that the goods were either stolen, obtained by deception or obtained by blackmail AND that you knew or believed that the goods had been obtained as such. Mere suspicion that the goods were stolen is not enough and this is based on what you had in your mind at the time the alleged offence was committed. This means that in order to be convicted the prosecution must prove a positive belief or actual knowledge that the goods were stolen.

The word ‘handling’ can include:

Dishonestly receiving or arranging to receive the goods

Dishonestly undertaking in or assisting in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of the goods

Ms JH pleaded guilty to this offence at Brighton Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a 24 month conditional discharge. This was a fantastic result for her as given the apparent aggravating features in her case, the starting point for sentence was a medium level community order. Given the personal mitigation we as her solicitors put forward on her behalf the magistrates on this occasion were satisfied that they could depart from the sentencing guidelines and sentence her to a lesser sentence.

If you have been arrested for or charged with a similar offence and would like advice from a solicitor, please do contact us on 01273 692020. Alternatively you can e-mail us on law@mulrooneycraghill.com . Our offices are located approximately 5 minutes walk from Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

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